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Korea Republic edge Mexico to advance

Korea Republic have set up a quarter-final showdown with France after qualifying from Group C with a 2-1 win over Mexico at Toronto's National Soccer Stadium. Lee Geummin and Lee Sodam scored the all-important goals as the Asian champions climbed off the foot of the table to leapfrog both their opponents and England to finish as runners-up to Nigeria.

Mexico, for whom Tanya Samarzich scored an excellent consolation, had begun the better of the two teams, with Fabiola Ibarra providing the game's first effort with a long-range shot that Min Yukyeong did well to save. Poor passing plagued both sides in the first half and, frustrated by the lack of clear-cut chances, El Tri's Luz Duarte tried her luck with a long-range effort that sailed harmlessly over from 30 yards.

Korea Republic enjoyed a good spell towards the end of the opening 45, though, and missed a glorious chance two minutes from the break when Lee Geummin sliced wide from eight yards after Mariel Guttierez had mis-kicked her clearance. Fortunately for the Ulsan College star, she needed just seconds to make amends, and did so with an excellent opening goal. Springing Mexico's offside trap, Lee took a long ball on her chest, cushioned it on to her right foot and flicked a first time, outside-of-the-foot shot high beyond Cecelia Santiago.

Though Mexico pushed hard for an equaliser, this remained a game of precious few chances, and it seemed the South Koreans had made sure of victory when they won a penalty with 25 minutes remaining. Clarissa Robles was penalised for a foul on Lee Geummin, and while Santiago guessed right on Lee Sodam's spot-kick, the set piece specialist's strike was hard and accurate enough - fired low in the corner - to leave the keeper with no chance.

But if Korea Republic anticipated calmly ticking down the seconds to full-time, they had another thing coming. Indeed, nine minutes after scoring, Lee Sodam went from hero to villain with a poor touch on the edge of her box that set up Tanya Samarzich for a shot on goal. The Mexico No7 still had plenty of work to do though and did it with considerably style, sending a superb first-time, left foot volley just inside the far post from 16 yards.

That sparked a nervy, frantic finish dominated by the Mexicans, but one which ended with the Asians looking forward to a Montreal meeting with Les Bleuettes.